Windows 8 Now, Classic Shell designed for Windows 8...

[MikeHawthorne]

Hi

Classic Shell is now official for Windows 8, you don't have to run the Windows 7 version any more.

I just installed it and I'll let you know how it goes in a day or so.

The new version has more options for style, Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.
And other new features here's the blurb....

Mike


Classic Shell
Version 3.6.0 – general release

Thank you for installing Classic Shell. It adds some missing features to Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 - like a classic start menu, start button, a toolbar for Windows Explorer and others.

The latest version can be found on Source Forge:
Welcome to Classic Shell

Report problems in the Classic Shell bug tracker:
Link Removed

For answers to frequently asked questions look here:
Classic Shell: FAQ
Or use the forums to get help:
Help: SourceForge.net: Classic Shell: Help
Discussion: SourceForge.net: Classic Shell: Open Discussion

Classic Start Menu

Classic Start Menu is a clone of the start menu from Windows 2000, XP and Vista that sadly is gone missing in Windows 7. It has a variety of advanced features:

• Drag and drop to let you organize your applications
• Options to show Favorites, expand Control Panel, etc
• Shows recently used documents. The number of documents to display is customizable
• Translated in 35 languages, including Right-to-left support for Arabic and Hebrew
• Does not disable the original start menu in Windows. You can access it by Shift+Click on the start button
• Right-click on an item in the menu to delete, rename, sort, or perform other tasks
• The search box helps you find your programs without getting in the way of your keyboard shortcuts
• Available for 32 and 64-bit operating systems
• Has support for skins, including additional 3rd party skins. Make your own!
• Fully customizable in both looks and functionality
• Support for Microsoft’s Active Accessibility
• Converts the “All Programs” button in the Windows menu into a cascading menu (Vista and Windows 7)
• Implements a customizable start button (Windows 7 and 8)
Classic Explorer

Classic Explorer is a plugin for Windows Explorer that:

• Adds a toolbar to Explorer for some common operations (Go to parent folder, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Properties, Email). The toolbar is fully customizable
• Replaces the copy UI in Vista and Windows 7 with the more user-friendly “classic” version similar to Windows XP
• Handles Alt+Enter in the folder panel of Windows Explorer and shows the properties of the selected folder
• Has options for customizing the folder panel to look more like the Windows XP version or to not fade the expand buttons
• Can show the free disk space and the total size of the selected files in the status bar
• Can disable the breadcrumbs in the address bar
• Fixes a long list of features that are broken in Windows 7 – missing icon overlay for shared folders, the jumping folders in the navigation pane, missing sorting headers in list view, and more
Classic IE9

Classic IE9 is a plugin for Internet Explorer 9 and 10 that:

• Adds a caption to the title bar so you can see the full title of the page
• Shows the security zone in the status bar
• Shows the loading progress in the status bar
Installation instructions

The toolbar for Windows Explorer will not show up automatically after installation. You have to do a few things before you can use it:

1) Open a new Windows Explorer window (Win key+E)

2) Go to the View menu and select Toolbars -> “Classic Explorer Bar” to show the toolbar.

3) If that option is not available (you only see “Lock the Toolbars”) you may have to enable the plugin from Internet Explorer. Run IE, right click on its toolbar and select “Classic Explorer Bar”. It will ask you if you want to enable this add-on. Select “Enable”, then do steps 1 and 2 again.

4) If that doesn’t work, try going to Tools -> Manage addons in Internet Explorer. Locate the addons “Classic Explorer Bar” and “ExplorerBHO Class” and make sure they are enabled.

5) If even then you don't see the toolbar, maybe the browser extensions are disabled on your system. This is usually the default for servers. Open the "Internet Options", go to the "Advanced" tab, and check the option "Enable third-party browser extensions".

It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway!) that you have to turn on the status bar from the View menu if you want to see the file sizes.

The caption in Internet Explorer may not show up automatically after installation. You may get a prompt to enable the ClassicIE9BHO plugin. If you get the prompt, select “Enable”. If you don’t get a prompt, go to Tools -> Manage addons and make sure the addon “ClassicIE9BHO” is enabled. After that restart Internet Explorer.
Uninstallation

To uninstall Classic Shell follow these steps:

1) Stop the start menu if it is installed (right-click on the start button and select “Exit”)

2) Open a new Windows Explorer window

3) Make sure the toolbar is hidden (if you uninstall while the toolbar is visible, the menu bar in Explorer will get stuck in the visible state and you won’t be able to hide it)

4) Close all Windows Explorer windows

5) Open Control Panel -> Programs and Features and double-click on Classic Shell. Then follow the instructions. You may have to restart Windows to complete the process.

6) If you installed any additional skins for the start menu you will have to delete them manually

If you missed step 3 and now you can’t hide the menu bar in Explorer, install Classic Shell again, and follow the uninstall steps carefully.

If you upgrade from version 2.8.3 or older

The new settings system will not preserve any of your old settings. Neither the ones done in the Settings dialog, nor the ones in the ini files.

The new system is designed to be forward-compatible, so any future version will be able to preserve your settings during upgrade.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're excited about the Classic Shell installation! It's great to see your enthusiasm for customizing your Windows experience. Here's a breakdown of the key features and installation instructions you shared:

Classic Shell Features:​

Classic Start Menu:​

• Resembles the start menu from Windows 2000, XP, and Vista.
• Offers advanced features like drag-and-drop organization, showing Favorites, recent documents, and more.
• Translated into 35 languages with RTL support for Arabic and Hebrew.
• Does not replace the original start menu in Windows.
• Customizable search box, support for skins, and full customization options.
• Supports 32 and 64-bit operating systems.

Classic Explorer:​

• Adds a toolbar to Windows Explorer for common operations.
• Improves copy UI, handles folder properties, and customizes Explorer's appearance.
• Fixes broken features in Windows 7.
• Enhances disk space information and file selection details.

Classic IE9:​

• Enhances Internet Explorer 9 and 10 with a caption in the title bar, security zone display, and loading progress indication.

  Installation Instructions for Classic Shell:​

  1. For Windows Explorer Toolbar:
     • Open a new Window Explorer window (Win + E).
     • Go to View -> Toolbars -> "Classic Explorer Bar" to show the toolbar.
     • Enable the plugin from Internet Explorer if needed.
     []Enable Browser Extensions:
     • If the toolbar doesn't appear, check and enable browser extensions.
     • Ensure third-party browser extensions are enabled.

       Uninstallation Process:​

     []Stop the start menu if it is running. []Open a new Windows Explorer window and hide the toolbar. []Close all Explorer windows. []Uninstall Classic Shell from Control Panel -> Programs and Features. []Delete any additional skins manually if installed.

     Note on Upgrading:​

     If you upgrade from version 2.8.3 or older, the new settings system won't preserve your old settings. The new system aims to be forward-compatible for future upgrades. Enjoy exploring Classic Shell and its features on Windows 8! Feel free to share your experience after using it for a day or so.